tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1195329121901897762.post7395132464006238290..comments2023-10-27T00:50:43.562-07:00Comments on Physics for my Mom: At the mineHughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07207142714575405001noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1195329121901897762.post-38300478697304301072009-06-11T06:37:39.969-07:002009-06-11T06:37:39.969-07:00Dear Hugh's Mom,
The cage ride up and down is...Dear Hugh's Mom, <br />The cage ride up and down is not really conducive to engaging in conversations about what goes on in SNOLAB and vice versa. The cage ride might only be 3.5 minutes and everyone is just happy to be heading back to surface after a long day underground.<br />There are many underground mining vehicles that are encountered on a regular basis that gives an indication of the scale of the mining projects. For example, an 8 yard scooptram is ~ 15' high and fills the entire drift. A scooptram is normally used for ore haulage and dumping, and also to remove muck from freshly blasted drifts. Creighton Mine has been in production since 1901; SNOLAB pays for its own water, electricity and cage rides.<br />When they were working on the same level as SNOLAB you can often see little bits of ore that have been dropped - you should ask Hugh for a sample! Creighton Mine has an enormous amount of Ni-Cu-PGE sulphide mineralization.<br />There are actually quite a few mines in the world that are being used by physicists to study the cosmos; seems a bit counter-intuitive but it works!<br />There are very nice bathrooms underground - you don't have to undress to use them because they are located in the "clean" parts of the lab! (everyone has already showered by this point). <br />There are almost as many women underground as there are men; if you count the entire support staff, construction crew and all the students!<br />Thanks for the blog Hugh!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1195329121901897762.post-21590173714985618822009-06-07T19:34:07.039-07:002009-06-07T19:34:07.039-07:00Not too much fraternization with the miners, they&...Not too much fraternization with the miners, they're mostly interested in their own lives, naturally. And signs of mining consist of equipment around, the screen on the walls, old bottles, we pass the "refuge station" on the way which looks like an old wooden hut except underground. Mine has been active for 40 years or so, lab was built about 20 years ago. There is some sort of agreement with Vale Inco, the mining company. There are other underground labs. Bring your own food underground (sandwiches for me). In the lab there are lovely bathrooms. There are women. Lots of questions there, mum, short answers, I know.Hughhttp://physicsformom.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1195329121901897762.post-26797121920522580062009-06-04T05:59:07.092-07:002009-06-04T05:59:07.092-07:00I LOVED this one of course. Questions:as you go u...I LOVED this one of course. Questions:as you go up and down with the miners, do they talk to you about your work or their work? You said you see "signs of mining." What exactly? Do you get to see what they are bringing up out of the mine? Do they have good days and bad days? Do you? When was your mine built - or requisitioned for physicists? Is it rented from the mine-owner? Are there other mines with physicists down there? How and what do you eat down there? Are there nice loos and do you have to undress to use them?<br />Any women down there? Loved the photos. Good blog, Hugh.Momnoreply@blogger.com